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Relic of Antarctica's first plane found on ice-edge

2nd January 2010, 11:23

CAPE DENISON, Antarctica (Reuters) ? An Antarctic expedition has found what it believes to be remains of the first aeroplane brought to the frozen continent, on an icy shore near where it was abandoned almost a century ago.

Australia has searched for many years for the old single-propeller Vickers plane at Cape Denison, where the nation's most famous polar explorer, Douglas Mawson, abandoned it after it proved to be a failure during his 1911-14 expedition.

Thanks for that flighter. The "plane" was supposed to fly in Antarctica but damaged its wings on trials in Australia, it was taken for use as an "air tractor", something it wasn't very good at either as it happens. It is noteable also for being the first plane built by the Vickers company.